Monthly Archives: September 2020

Once Is Never Enough

Kevin Willett says don’t wait until you need a referral, a customer or more business to meet with someone a second time.

When you are thinking about whether to attend a networking event or use your time elsewhere, do not make your decision solely on who will be at the event. Yes that is an important piece to consider, as I have said before, you need to present to the right audience, but you’d be amazed at the amount of people who turn down and event because they have met somebody attending  one other time.  Once is never enough. Do you think because you met someone once that they will remember everything about you and your business? I have had people asked me about event attendees even after attending multiple events with that person. ‘Hey Kev, who was that guy that did roofs at your last event? ‘Hey Kev, lady who does real estate for southern NH, I know her first name but can’t remember her last” and on and on. I have spoken and written many times about getting to know, like and trust. This takes time! Relationships need to be built, follow up needs to be done, and becoming comfortable with referrals to and from needs to happen.This is not the networking guy trying to get you to go to multiple events he is hosting, LOL. This is the networking guy trying to help you. Let me ask you this: Think about and event you have been to in the past. Do you remember everyone who was there and what they do? Probably not.

Next time you are thinking about skipping an event because you talked to someone once already, think again.

Watch my YouTube Channel  for more on this and other Business Networking Tips

Kevin Willett is the Author of One Connection How you can grow your business  (and change the world) one connection at a time. The business networking book is available on Amazon. Purchase One Connection on Amazon

Kevin is also the CEO of the Friends of Kevin Networking Group  and the New England B2B Networking Group. Please connect with him on social media to hear about his upcoming business networking events

The Secret to Getting People to Accept Your Calls

Kevin Willett says doing a little bending in your schedule will not break it

What is the answer to this burning question you ask? Simple, be flexible.

The other day I had a call scheduled and the person cancelled on me. I tried to reschedule, and she was busy. She later contacted me with an alternative time, and I was busy. Several emails and phone tag episodes later we still hadn’t figured out when we could chat. This person felt bad that they had to cancel the original call. I told them it was no big deal, that if we were both willing to be flexible with the other’s schedule it would all work out. Hey, it is great that they were so busy, it meant business is good! A similar thing happened to me a few weeks ago. I was at my desk at 5am, as I am on most days, and an email comes through from a gentleman, I had on my calendar for a call later that day. He was going to have to cancel. I emailed him back immediately and said obviously he was awake and so was I, let’s talk now.  Now that is being flexible! We ended up having a great conversation. It all worked out.

On the flip side of this, if you have extra availability, that may not be something to advertise. Some potential clients may be weary if you tell them you are available to talk 24/7 in the upcoming days. They may wonder why you have so much free time. Give them a few options to choose from, making them think the rest was filled in. But again, stay flexible.

Bottom line is you need to service your clients first. If 9 to 5 does not fit for phone calls or video chats, be flexible to a 5:30 conversation. That is 5:30pm not 5:30am like me LOL. Although, if you are both early risers, why not! People who are willing to bend or maneuver their time in order to connect with potential clients are the one who will be successful.

Watch my YouTube Channel  for more on this and other Business Networking Tips

Kevin Willett is the Author of One Connection How you can grow your business  (and change the world) one connection at a time. The business networking book is available on Amazon. Purchase One Connection on Amazon

Kevin is also the CEO of the Friends of Kevin Networking Group  and the New England B2B Networking Group. Please connect with him on social media to hear about his upcoming business networking events

The Key To Being Successful With Business Networking

Kevin Willett says there are no shortcuts in networking

I know I have said this before, but feel it needs to be repeated, be involved, participate. It is easy to join multiple groups. It is not easy to be involved in multiple groups. Don’t take on more than you can handle, membership wise. With any group you are a member of you need to participate and be involved. Are you sharing people’s from the groups posts? Are you chatting with people outside of networking events? Are you passing referrals? The people that do these things are the people who are most successful in networking. Just writing a check or having your name on a directory is not the way to go. That is lazy and will not show positive results. There are no shortcuts in networking. Put the effort in and watch your success grow.

Watch my YouTube Channel  for more on this and other Business Networking Tips

Kevin Willett is the Author of One Connection How you can grow your business  (and change the world) one connection at a time. The business networking book is available on Amazon. Purchase One Connection on Amazon

Kevin is also the CEO of the Friends of Kevin Networking Group  and the New England B2B Networking Group. Please connect with him on social media to hear about his upcoming business networking events

What Time Is It

Kevin Willett says be aware of the clock no matter where your meeting is being held

We do a lot more business online nowadays. Working from home has some of us forgetting what day it is or what time it is.  I have been noticing lately a lot more people showing up late for ZOOM meetings. Sometimes it is an honest case of losing track of time, but sometimes it is a case of not caring. People treating a ZOOM meeting as less than important compared to an in-person meeting. This is not correct! You would not leave someone hanging in a coffee shop or conference room. Just because they are at home at their desk, you should not leave them hanging there either! Time is precious no matter where the meeting is taking place and to disregard that concept is being disrespectful to the person you are meeting with. This is especially true about group meetings. Now you are leaving multiple people waiting for you. Just because a meeting is online does not mean it is not a big deal or should be less formal. Tardiness affects your brand and can hurt your business. So, online or in person, know what time it is.

Watch my YouTube Channel  for more on this and other Business Networking Tips

Kevin Willett is the Author of One Connection How you can grow your business  (and change the world) one connection at a time. The business networking book is available on Amazon. Purchase One Connection on Amazon

Kevin is also the CEO of the Friends of Kevin Networking Group  and the New England B2B Networking Group. Please connect with him on social media to hear about his upcoming business networking events

How To Get More Referrals

Kevin Willett says now is a great time for thinking outside the box

These days referrals seem like they may be hard to come by. We are not going to networking events or coffee meetings like we used to. If we are not out meeting new people, how can we pass referrals to our connections? The answer let’s use the power that we do have and think outside the box. If you are not doing in person meetings, have you tried an online event? Instead of coffee meetings or one on ones, how about a zoom call or facetime? Other ways you can help your referral partners is by talking them up on social media. Tell other people what your friends do, how they can help you, who they are. Share their blogs, social media links, and websites. If they are doing the same for you, you can both keep networking even though it is virtually, and you can keep getting new business. Sharing all this information is a way to keep your name out there and keep growing. Now more than ever is a great time to utilize your connections, show people who you know and how you can help.

Watch my YouTube Channel  for more on this and other Business Networking Tips

Kevin Willett is the Author of One Connection How you can grow your business  (and change the world) one connection at a time. The business networking book is available on Amazon. Purchase One Connection on Amazon

Kevin is also the CEO of the Friends of Kevin Networking Group  and the New England B2B Networking Group. Please connect with him on social media to hear about his upcoming business networking events